Retailer H&M to close Rochester-area stores

Swedish-clothing chain H&M will close its two Rochester-area locations later this month.

An employee answering the phone at the H&M location at Eastview Mall confirmed what Rochester Business Journal news partner WHEC-TV 10 reported Thursday. Employees were told that both the Eastview Mall and Mall at Greece Ridge locations will close on Jan. 24. Close to 30 employees will be affected.

Last January H&M closed its store at the Great Northern Mall in Clay, outside of Syracuse, without warning. The clothing company had yet to release a statement regarding any closings in Rochester as of midday Thursday. However, officials for Wilmorite Management Group LLC, which owns both malls, also confirmed the closings.

“After lengthy negotiations, we were unable to bridge the gap between our respective expectations for the two spaces,” said Dennis Wilmot, senior vice president of leasing and development, in a statement. “We are both disappointed with the outcome but must move forward. Fortunately, we are well on our way to backfilling both locations with new, exciting retail and entertainment concepts and hope to make some announcements in the coming months.”